Falkenberg: See Hotze's surprising take from GOP on immigration

Hotze's immigration surprise

LISA FALKENBERG, Copyright 2011, HOUSTON CHRONICLE

Published 6:30 am, Monday, February 21, 2011

When it comes to immigration reform, some of you Republicans are a stubborn lot.

You won't listen to the professors who document the economic benefits of immigrant labor and the low crime rates in immigrant communities. You won't listen to business leaders calling for comprehensive reform of a broken system.

You won't listen to the pope, or any of those do-gooder interfaith ministers' alliances calling for tolerance and compassion. You won't listen to history, or the voices of your immigrant ancestors, who have more in common with today's Mexican day laborers than you'd ever admit.

While some Texas Republicans are pushing Arizona-style anti-illegal immigrant legislation, and our governor is calling it an "emergency," Hotze and some of his like-minded GOPers are promoting a video featuring the good doctor that seeks to reset the tone in one of the country's most polarizing debates.

Its point is clear: If Hispanics are the key to Texas GOP survival, and they are, then any hateful anti-immigrant rhetoric that pushes them away can be an instrument of the party's demise.

Shared principles

In the video making its way around Republican blogs and e-mail lists, Hotze explains that many Hispanics share "our conservative principles," and values such as a willingness "to work harder for a better life." Demographic figures illustrate Hispanic population growth, and the video spotlights what might be to some a surprising figure: 39 percent of Hispanics voted for Republican Gov. Rick Perry's re-election.

The tone of the debate matters, the video's narrator says: "Republicans should not and cannot allow heated rhetoric to sound angry and anti-Latino. That is when Latinos stop listening and turn their backs."

One of several Hispanic Republican voters featured is Ivan Parra, a 40-year-old Ecuadoran immigrant who owns an auto leasing business in Houston. He told me he voted straight-ticket Republican for the first time in the latest election, but in the video he warns that anti-immigrant policies and hate speech can easily sour him and others on the Republican Party.

"Every family values-oriented conservative should understand this," Parra says in the video. "At the end of the day, you're going to put aside political opinions, political alliances, and vote for the party that you think (is) not going to deport your grandmother."

Hotze took part in the video at the urging of his friend and fellow partisan, Norman Adams, a Houston insurance agent who has served four terms on the GOP platform committee. He's also contributed to the campaigns of Houston-area Republicans Sen. Dan Patrick and Rep. Debbie Riddle, but he says the so-called sanctuary city legislation they're pushing "is the last thing we need."

Work permits

Adams, who founded Texans for Sensible Immigration Policy, promotes what he calls an "ID 'em and tax 'em" approach to reform. He argues that we need immigrant workers, not just to support our economy but our fertility rate, and of course, the GOP. He supports issuing immigrants work permits, but opposes shortcuts to citizenship, or amnesty.

Some have embraced his message. State Rep. Aaron Pena, a longtime Edinburg Democrat who recently switched parties, said when Adams showed him the video, "I felt as though I had made it myself."

And some have rejected it. A couple of weeks ago, a Republican acquaintance distributed a harsh rebuke, declaring the veteran Republican activist "a traitor to this nation." The e-mail prompted an equally impassioned defense from another of the Hotze brothers, Bruce, who declared: "I have toiled in the vineyards of Freedom and Liberty with Norman Adams. Norm Adams is a Patriot and an American Treasure."

Adams should be commended for trying to bring sense to this debate. And Hotze as well for helping the cause.

Although, it should be noted, there are limits to Hotze's willingness to widen the tent.

'Nativistic thinking'

In an open letter to Republicans in which Hotze explains why he supports Adams' ideas, he criticizes some of his fellow "Caucasian" Republicans for "nativistic and prejudicial thinking on the immigration issue." He proclaims the majority of Hispanic American culture "Christian, pro-family, pro-life and pro-free enterprise."

But he closes with this: "Gentlemen, it seems that the real problem we face is the Muslim immigration invasion of America. The Hispanics are our natural allies against the Democrats and Muslims."

Hotze's efforts to diversify his party might mean more if, as he opened the door to a new constituency, he didn't have to slam the window shut on another.

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